Kindling device



WITNESS:

Nov. 29, 1927. 1,651,165

J. w. THOMAS KINDLING DEVICE Original Filed April 15, 1922 John/1L Thomas INVENTOR M ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 29, 1927.

JOHN W. THOMAS, or woons'rocx, NEW Yonx.

KINDLING DEVICE.

Application filed April 15, 1922, Serial No. 552,905. Renewed February 5, 1925.

This invention is a fire kindling device adapted to be saturated with a combustible liquid and placed beneath the fuel'in a stove or fire-place, and ignited, for the purpose of igniting such fuel without the use of the usual kindling. The object is the provision of a device of this character whichwill burn efficiently and for a relatively long period and yet be capable of production at a low manufacturing cost.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of a fire lighter embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal and Figure 3 is a transverse section.

The numeral 10 indicates the body of the device which may be formed of fire-brick or other fire-proof material adapted to be saturated with liquid such as kerosene. This body is provided with a plurality of straight channels or tunnels 11 which extend parallel with the longitudinal axis of the body and relatively near to its peripheral surface. The channels do not of necessity extend completely through the body as in the form shown but may be open at one end only and terminate short of the other end of the body. Thesechannels are filled with an absorbent fire-proof fibrous or capillary material, such as asbestos, either loose or in the form of :1 wick, or as a packing of a mixture of firebrick and asbestos. It is preferred to use asbestos in wick form which can be readily pushed or pulled into the channels and cut off of the proper length as will be evident. Each of the wick-containing channels is provided with a row of vent openings 12 extendsect-ion thereof,

ing to the exterior surface of the body.

Extending longitudinally through the body 10 and centrally of the wick channels, is a rod 13, secured in place by nuts or otherwise and having at one enda holding means or eye 15, by which the device may be lifted by a poker when hot.

In the use of the invention, the device is immersed in kerosene or other combustible liquid until thoroughly saturated. It is then placed in position for use and lighted with a match, whereupon the kerosene on the exterior surface will burn first and to some extent heat the interior of the body and the wick material; this vaporizes the kerosene so that the vapor issues from the ventholes 12 with sufficient veloclty to entrain the air.

necessary for its most effective combustion and this process continues until the relatively massive body is heated through to the central rod and all the fuel has been expelled and burned as vapor. It will be seen that by providing many wick channels in the body, arranged near to the outside surface as described, the action of the vent-holes begins more or less immediately and continues with a substantially uniform combustion rate until the fuel is exhausted, thereby making it practical for the device to be made as large as may be necessary for kindling wet or green logs which require a long burning period. With the arrangement of the wick channels as described and even though the vent-holes are short as stated, the device is devoid of any walls or parts so thin as to be easily broken and is therefore well'adapted to withstand the rough usage to which it is subject. It is preferred to arrange the wick channels symmetrically about the longitudinal axis of the body and nearer to the outside surface thereof than to its center, so that the center of the body is constituted of a relatively massive central portion which has a considerable capacity for fuel and adds strength to the device.

Having described the invention what is claimed is 1. A fire-kindler comprising a body provided with a wick-containing channel extending longitudinally through it and with a series of vent openings extending from the channel to the exterior of the body and having a holding means at one end of the body.

2. A fire-kindler having a body provided with a longitudinal wick-containing channel located therein nearer to one side than the other and provided with vent openings extending from said channel to the nearest surface of said body.

3. A fire-kindler composed of a body provided with a series of straight wick-containingchannels extending parallel to the axis of the body and open atthe end thereof and provided with a holding means at one end of said body. 7

4. A fire-kindler composed of a body formed of fire-proof material and provided with a central rod terminating in a holding means and with a series of wick-containing channels parallel to and around said rod.

5. A fire-kindler having a body provided with a plurality of open-end Wick-containing channels each provided With vent openings extending from the channel to the exterior of the body.

I 6. A fire-kindler comprising a porous body of fire-proof material having a substantially solid core, a plurality of tunnels Within the body disposed intermediate its axis and lts exterior surface, and vent 0pen lngs from the tunnels to the exterior of the a body.

' In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN W. THOMAS. 

